Paper-towel rack



May 7, 1963 P. s. cuRRY 3,088,686

PAPERTOWEL RACK Filed Aug. '7, 1961 x 99 27/9 L26 13 "0 f5 P520/Sugg/gg? 2Mo/4 W ATTONE Y United States Patent O 3,088,686 PAPER-TOWELRACK Percy S. Curry, Bland, Bland County, Va. Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser.No. 129,606 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-55.2)

This invention relates to a rack or holder for supporting a roll ofpaper towels, or the like, so that the latter is rotatable about itslongitudinal axis.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide such a rack whichis extremely sturdy, easy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The rack comprises in general a pair of posts adapted to rotatablysupport a paper-towel roll between them. The posts are mounted on abase, one of them being fixed to the base and the other movable withrespect ito the base in a direction toward a-nd away from the fixedpost. The movable post is spring biased toward the xed post. When it isdesired to insert a paper-towel roll between the posits, the movablepost is pulled away from the fixed post in order to enlarge the distancebetween them, the roll is aligned with the posts, and the movable postis released in order to permit it to return to its normal position underthe influence of the spring whereby the roll will be supported betweenthe posts.

An important feature of this invention is the means provided for guidingthe relative movement of the posts. The movable post is provided with atongue slidable within the base of the rack. The tongue is slotted andduring the assembly of the rack parts, the tongue is positioned so thata pin xed Ito the base projects through the slot. A headed bushing isthen inserted into the slot around the pin to prevent the separation ofthe tongue and movable post from the base. The dimensions of the bushingare so chosen that it fits rather closely against the tongue to insurestraight line movement -of the tongue and movable post with respect tothe base in order to avoid jamming of the parts. On the other hand, theiit of Lthe bushing is loose enough to permit free and easy movement ofthe movable post. Furthermore, use of the headed bushing as an expedientfor guiding the movement of the parts makes the cost of manufacture lowsince the part itself is inexpensive to fabricate and its assembly withthe remainder of the rack may be effected easily and quickly.

A further feature of the invention, and one which greatly reduces itscost of manufacture, is the fact that it may be fabricated of just threeymolded plastic parts, exclusive of the spring and a unit for retainingthe bushing on the pin. The three parts are the integrally formed baseand fixed post, the integrally formed tongue and movable post, and thebushing. All of these parts may be made by an inexpensive moldingoperation and are adapted to be assembled speedily and with ease.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description in which reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a Itop plan view of a paper-towel rack made in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rack;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the rack; and

FIG. 5 is fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

The rack chosen for illustration comprises generally a base 10, and twoupstanding posts 11 and 12 located on the front face of the base ateither end thereof. Each of the posts carries a tapered support member16 adapted to `fit into the ends of the cardboard tube upon which a rollof paper towels 17 is generally wound. The roll 17 is thereby rotatablysupported between the posts. If de- 3,088,686 Patented May 7, 1963 Fricesired, each of the posts 11 and 12 may be provided with a strengtheningrib 20.

The post 11 is fixed to the base 10 and may, if desired, be madeintegral therewith. Thus, if the parts are made out of plastic, the post11 and base 10 may be molded as a unit in a single operation. The post112, on the other hand, is independent of the base 10i.

The rear face of the base 10 is formed with a hollowedout region 13having a top wall 14. At the end opposite the post 11, the base isprovided with a channel 15 communicating with the hollowed-out region13. In insert 18 is located in the channel 15 and presents a tongue 19extending into the region 13 adjacent to the top wall 14. The post 12 isxed to the insert 18, and, if desired, these 'two elements together withthe tongue 19 may advantageously be formed as a unit of plastic in asingle molding operation.

The width of .the tongue '19, at least in the region closest to theinsert 1,8, is preferably made about equal to the width of the channel15 for a reason which will be mentioned hereinafter. The tongue 19 isprovided with a central slot 23, extending longitudinally with respectto the tongue, which accommodates a pin 24 projecting rearwardly fromthe top wall 14. Also located within the slot 23 is a bushing 25,-surrounding the pin 24, having an enlarged head 26 (see FIG. 5). Theinternal diameter of the bushing is about equal to or slightly greaterthan the diameter of the pin 24 so that the bushing may be slipped overthe pin easily while leaving a minimum of play between the pin andbushing. The external diameter of the bushing is about equal to orslightly smaller than the width of the slot 23 in the ltongue 19 so thatthe tongue will be able to slide freely past the bushing while at thesame time leaving a minimum of lateral play between the tongue andbushing. It will be seen, therefore, that if the tongue is moved in adirection away from the xed post 11, it will be guided at two pointsalong its length, i.e. within the channel 15 and by .the bushing 25, andwill thereby be constrained to move along a straight line path. The factthat the tongue is conti-ned at two points also adds to the sturdinessand stability of the device, and eliminates the possibility of jammingof the tongue during its movements.

The head 26 of the bushing has a diameter larger than fthe width of theslot 23, and the head is spaced from the opposite end of the bushing adistance about equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of thetongue 19. As a result, when the end of the bushing 25 is in contactwith the top wall 14, the head 26 will maintain .the tongue 19 parallelto the top wall 14 and yet permit free movement of the tongue. A springsteel nut or clamp 27 is lfixed to the pin 24 behind the bushing 25 inorder to prevent the bushing from sliding off the pin.

A tension spring 28 mounted between a stud 29 projecting from the topwall 14 and a stud 30 projecting from the tongue 19 tends to urge thetongue, insert 18, and post 12 into their normal positions shown inFIGS. 1, 3, 5, and in solid lines in FIG. 2. When it is desired toinsert a roll of paper towels into the rack, the post 12 is pulled inthe direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, into the position shown indot-dash lines, against the force of the spring 28. Sutlicient spacingis .thus created between the members |16 to permit the roll to beconveniently placed in a position of axial alignment with the members16. The post 12 is then released and the spring 28 draws it back towardthe post `11 whereby the members 16 enter the hollow ends of the roll 17and rotatably support it.

It should be pointed out that the elements within the hollowed-outregion 13` do not project past the rear face of the base 10'.Consequently, this face can be placed -ush against a mounting surfaceand Ithe rack secured to the surface by fastening means which passthrough the holes 31 in the base.

It will benoted rthat-the present rack comprises just fittings. Oneplastic part includes the base 10, post 11 (with its member 16 and rib20), pin 24, and stud 29. The second .part includes the post .12 (withits member 16 and rib 20), insert 18, tongue 19, and stud 30. The thirdplastic pant is the bushing 25. The two ittings are the -nut 27y andsp1-ing 28. All Athese parts are inexpensive to fabricate and assemblethus making the rack extremely inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only and byway of example and many variations may be made therein which will stillbe comprised within the spirit of the invention. It is understood,ytherefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form orembodiment except insofar as such limitations are eX- pressed in 4theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rack for supporting a roll of paper towels comprising an elongatedbase, a pair of posts mounted on the front face of said base and adaptedto hold a paper-towel roll between them, one of said posts being fixedto the base and the other movable with respect thereto in a direction`toward and away from said iixed post, the rear face of said base formedwith a hollowed-out region having a top wall, said base having a channelat one end communicating with said hollowed-out region, a tongue securedto `said movable post extending through said channel into saidhollowed-out portion, said tongue having an elongated slot disposedlongitudinally with respect to the Vdirection of movement of saidmovable post, a pin projecting from said top wall through said slot,Vmeans lsecured to said pin for guiding the movement of said tongue, anda tension spring mounted between said top wall and said tongue forconstantly urging said movable post toward said lixed post, saidguidemeans comprising a bushing sur- `rounding said pin, the internaldiameter of said bushing being about equal to Y.the diameter of said pinand the external diameter of Isaid bushing being about equal to :thewidth :of said slot, and including means fixed to the pin near its freepend for preventing axial-.movement of said bushing withrespect to saidpin.

2. A rack according to claim l wherein said bushing has an enlarged headspaced from the opposite end of the bushing a distance about equal tothe thickness of said tongue.

3. A rack according to claim 2 wherein the width of said tongue is aboutequal to the width of said channel.

4. A rack according to claim 3 wherein said tongue, pin, bushing, andtension spring are all disposed entirely within said hollowed-out regionwhereby the rear face of said base may be mounted flush with respect toa at supporting surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A RACK FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDBASE, A PAIR OF POSTS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT FACE OF SAID BASE AND ADAPTEDTO HOLD A PAPER-TOWEL ROLL BETWEEN THEM, ONE OF SAID POSTS BEING FIXEDTO THE BASE AND THE OTHER MOVABLE WITH RESPECT THERETO IN A DIRECTIONTOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIXED POST, THE REAR FACE OF SAID BASE FORMEDWITH HOLLOWED-OUT REGION HAVING A TOP WALL, SAID BASE HAVING A CHANNELAT ONE END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOWED-OUT REGION, A TONGUE SECUREDTO SAID MOVABLE POST EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CHANNEL INTO SAIDHOLLOWED-OUT PORTION, SAID TONGUE HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT DISPOSEDLONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLEPOST, A PIN PROJECTING FROM SAID TOP WALL THROUGH SAID SLOT, MEANSSECURED TO SAID PIN FOR GUIDING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TONGUE, AND ATENSION SPRING MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID TOP WALL AND SAID TONGUE FORCONSTANTLY URGING SAID MOVABLE POST TOWARD SAID FIXED POST, SAID GUIDEMEANS COMPRISING A BUSHING SURROUNDING SAID PIN, THE INTERNAL DIAMETEROF SAID BUSHING BEING ABOUT EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID PIN AND THEEXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID BUSHING BEING ABOUT EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAIDSLOT, AND INCLUDING MEANS FIXED TO THE PIN NEAR ITS FREE END FORPREVENTING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BUSHING WITH RESPECT TO SAID PIN.